Fruit-picker&#39;s platform.



PATENTED APR. 14, 1908f c. A. MoDER-MOTT. FRUIT PIGKERS PLATFORM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26. 1907.

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PATENTED APR. 14, 1908-.

0. A.IMQD'ERMOTT.' FRUIT PIUKBR'S PLATFORM.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 26.1907.

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CHARLES A. MoDERMOTT, OF SULTANA, CALIFORNIA.

FRUIT-PIGKERS PLATFORM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Application filed June 26, 1907.

Patented April 14, 1908.

Serial No. 380,901.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. MODER- MOTT, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Sultana, in the county of Tulare and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fruit-PickersPlatforms, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a platform for enablinga fruitpicker to gather apples, or other fruit growing on trees, in amoreconvenient and expeditious manner.

Ordinarily a step ladder is used for this purpose which has to beconstantly shifted from time to time as the fruit is gathered from agivensection of the tree, with more or less trouble in securing a solidand firm footing for the step ladder each time it is moved and with theloss of considerable time.

My invention consists in a platform made in the form of an annularsegment extending about half way around the tree, suitably mounted onlegs of sufficient height to bring the picker up into easy reach of thefruit on the branches and of a diameter adapted to the tree, preferablyabout twelve feet so that when once in place the picker is enabled togather the fruit from one half of the tree without changing-the positionof the platform.

It also consists in means for constructing and bracing the platformagainst tipping or twisting out of place and in means for adjusting theheight of the platform and for enabling the picker to convenientlyascend the same and descend therefrom, as well as for convenientlytransporting the platform from tree to tree, as hereinafter more fullydescribed with reference to' the drawing, in which Figure 1 is aperspective view of the platform set up for use under a tree and Fig. 2is a plan view thereof.

In the drawing, A represents the running board which is made of stoutbut light planking. This running board is about an inch thick and fromeight to ten inches wide and of semi-circular form and extent andpreferably bound along the edges with iron bands. It is supported upontwo end legs B B and one middle leg C. These legs are about eight feetlong and capable of extension, as hereafter described.

The end legs lie in the vertical plane of the ends of the running board,but are inclined so that their upper ends connect with the running boardabout three feet, more or less, from the ends of the running board, the

wardly toward the middle of the curve of the running board. The end legsand the ends of the running board are braced by an out-- side brace (1extending from the underside of each. end of the running board to thelower portions of the said end legs and on the inner side of these endlegs a series of inclined braces I) extend from the end legs up to themiddle portions of the running board.

The middle leg C is not set in the vertical plane of the running board,but its lower end is inclined outwardly to a larger circle than therunning board. This is for the purpose of throwing the weight of theperson standing on the middle of the running board well inside of thepoint of support for the middle leg, so as to prevent tipping theplatform outwardly. This middle leg has a series of braces c on eachside of equal number and inclination and extending in opposite directionup to the bottom of the running board.

This middle leg also has attached to it, or

formed on it, a series of foot-holds or ladder steps (1 and has also theshort rectangular bracing e c.

To adjust the length of the legs for taller trees, each leg has at itslower end a sliding foot extension E connected to the legs by metalstraps or keepers F, F, through which the extensible sections may beadjusted longitudinally and which adjustment is fixed by pins f. Anyother convenient means of extension may be provided and this serves notonly to increase the height of the platform for tall trees, but on theslopes of side hills or uneven ground it allows the legs to be soadjusted to the contours as to always maintain the running board levelor horizontal, thus insuring its stability under the weight of thepicker.

The inclination of the middle leg not only gives stability to theplatform, but furnishes the proper inclination for the ladder steps orfoot holds and also keeps the bracing well out and away from the tree.

All bracing lies close to the vertical plane of the running board, sothat the interior of the platform is free and open and there is nointerference with the low lying branches of the tree, thus allowing theplatform to hug the tree closely enough to practically surround one-halfof it.

Although primarily intended for gathering fruit, it will be understoodthat my platform furnishes very convenient means of access to the treesfor spraying the same with insect and fungus preventives, permitting amuch more careful and thorough treatment of the trees than couldotherwise be had.

The whole platform is made of light but strong material and is easilymoved about from place to place. To facilitate this sh1fting about ofthe platform, it is provided with means for enabling one man to carry itupon his shoulders as follows. Two long brace bars y and 2 are arrangedinside the curve of the running board and extend respectively from thetop of one end leg to the bottom of the other end leg, crossing eachother in the middle. These bars are made of flexible stuff and aresprung or bent to an approximate curve to the running board A, but witha somewhat flatter curve and their middle portions are firmly secured toeach other and to two horizontal and parallel shoulder bars 00 00 whoseouter ends are connected to the rectangular bracing e 6. These shoulderbars have pads 03 90 to rest upon the shoulders of a man when his headis thrust between the bars, and form a lifting support at about thecenter of gravity of the entire structure that allows of easy andconvenient transportation. Theoutward projection of the middle leg andits bracing 0 acts as a truss and effectively resists the inward stressof the bent bars 3 z and thus hold these bars away from the center so asto allow the low limbs of a tree to project well in between the ends ofthe platform.

I claim 1. A portable platform for the use of orchardists, comprising acurved running board, supporting legs for the same, in clined bracesconnecting the running board to the legs and curved braces arran edinside of and following approximate y the curve of the running board toleave a free open central space.

2. A portable platform for the use of orchardists, comprising a curvedrunning board, supporting legs for the same, inclined braces connectingthe running board to the le s and curved braces arranged inside of andfo lowing approximately the curve of the running board to leave a freeopen central space, said curved braces crossing each other and extendingfrom the bottom of one end leg to the top of the other end 'leg andforming a tension member.

3. A platform for the use of orchardists,

comprising a curved running board, two end legs with inclined braceslying within the vertical plane of the running board and a middle leghaving its lowerend outside the vertical plane of the running board andinclined braces connecting said middle leg to the running board.

4. A platform for the use of orchardists, comprising a curved runningboard, two end legs with inclined braces connecting them to the runningboard, a middle leg having its lower end outside of the vertical planeof the runnin board and formed with a series of foot-ho ds on theoutside and inclined braces for said legs connecting it with the runningboard.

5. A platform for the use of orchardists, comprising a curved runningboard, supporting legs for the ends of the running board inclinedinwardly at the top and connecting with the running board at a distancefrom its ends, an outside brace for each end leg connecting the same tothe end of the running board, inclined braces for the end legs extendedtoward the middle part of the running board, a middle leg having itslower end extended outside the curve of the running board and inclinedbraces for the same extendin to the running board.

6. A pTatform for the use of orchardists,

comprising a curved running board, sup-' portingv legs and braces forthe same and shoulder bearings for the platform arranged inside thecurve of the running board in proximity to the center of gravity.

7. A platform for the use of orchardists, comprising a curved runningboard, braced supporting legs for the same arranged at the ends and themiddle, curved and inclined braces arranged within the running board andof a flatter curve than'the running board, and one or more cross barsconnecting the middle part of the curved braces to the middle support ofthe running board.

CHARLES A. MODERMOTT. Witnesses:

LE ROY G. SMITH, S. K. GREENE.

